Month: September 2024

Voices in Iranian Folk Music

Posted on by George Thomas

By Hadi Rahmani, PhD Music candidate, School of Arts

Continuing our series spotlighting PGR summer internship projects, PhD Music candidate Hadi Rahmani tells us about working with Professor Michael Ellison to uncover and study endangered vocal music in his native Iran. As Hadi explains, carrying out this research is vital for ensuring these unique cultural expressions endure for generations to come.

Iran, a land steeped in history and culture, resonates with a diverse array of folk music traditions that reflect the country’s geographical and cultural richness. During this project, I explored the depths of these traditions, uncovering a mosaic of voices that span different regions, each with its own unique flavour and significance.

Overview of Iranian Folk Music

Iran’s folk music reflects the country’s rich cultural diversity, spanning various regions and linguistic traditions. My research covered Azerbaijan, Northern Iran (Talesh, Gilan, Mazandaran, Turkman Sahra), Kurdestan, Khorasan, the Zagros region (Lorestan, Bakhtiyari, Qashqai), Southern Iran (Khuzestan, Bushehr, Hormozgan), and Baluchestan, as well as Zoroastrian music from Central Iran. This diverse musical heritage includes languages from the Turkic family (Azari, Qashqai, Turkmen), Iranian languages (Lori, Kurdish, Taleshi, Gilaki, Mazani, Baluchi), the Semitic family (Arabic), and local dialects like Bakhtiyari and Bushehri (Bandari). These regional and linguistic variations contribute to the richness and complexity of Iranian folk music, making it a vital area for preservation and study.

Different Functions of Folk Songs in Iran

Iranian folk music serves a variety of functions, reflecting the cultural and social fabric of the country. These functions include dance music, which energizes social gatherings; lamentation songs, which express grief and sorrow; and ritual music, integral to religious and cultural ceremonies. Therapeutic songs, such as Zār, are used for healing, while Sufi music facilitates spiritual experiences. Epic and storytelling songs preserve historical and cultural narratives, and work songs coordinate collective labor. Additionally, ceremonial songs accompany events such as weddings and other significant life milestones, highlighting the multifaceted roles of folk music in Iranian society.

Connection to My PhD Research and Impact on Composition Work

The exploration of Iranian folk music has been instrumental in my PhD research on counterpoint within Persian traditional music. Many of these folk traditions are closely related to the Dastgah system (Dast meaning hand and Gah meaning a specific place), enriching my understanding of modal structures and their potential for polyphonic development. However, some folk traditions diverge from the Dastgah, offering unique modal qualities and rhythmic patterns that inspire innovative compositional techniques. The modal diversity and rhythmic intricacies of these folk songs, along with their elaborate variations, provide a profound source of inspiration, allowing me to incorporate authentic Iranian elements into my contemporary compositions, bridging traditional and modern musical expressions. Engaging deeply with Iranian folk music has not only expanded my research skills but also broadened my cultural horizons. It has prepared me for the collaborative nature of academic publishing, as I worked to synthesise these findings within a broader scholarly context. I’ve gained profound insights into the neglected folk traditions from remote corners of Iran, fostering a deeper appreciation for the country’s musical heritage and its socio-cultural significance.

Interdisciplinary Connections and Challenges in the Research

Conducting research on Iranian folk music has revealed significant interdisciplinary connections and challenges. Ethnomusicology, sociology, psychology, music therapy, and history intersect in this field, highlighting the rich cultural and social contexts of the music. However, a major challenge is the lack of resources, particularly academic works and expert analyses of folk music, many of which are in danger and require urgent preservation. This scarcity necessitates extensive fieldwork and primary data collection, which, while enriching, can be time-consuming and complex. Despite these obstacles, the interdisciplinary nature of this research offers a comprehensive understanding of Iranian folk traditions and their broader implications. Through this internship, I was able to utilise my knowledge of Iranian music to uncover and study regional voices and source recordings, providing key insights that will contribute to both the Centre for Asian Music Studies and the groundwork for future research in contemporary ensemble performance and composition.

In conclusion, my journey into Iranian folk music has been transformative, offering profound insights into its cultural tapestry and enriching my academic pursuits. Many of these folk traditions are in danger of being forgotten and require more attention to preserve them. I am excited about the future potential of this research, both in advancing scholarly discourse and contributing to the preservation of Iran’s diverse musical traditions. Research like this is vital for ensuring these unique cultural expressions endure for future generations.

Hadi Rahmani is a PhD candidate in Music Composition, focusing on polyphony within Persian traditional music. His research delves into the modal and rhythmic structures of Iranian folk traditions, exploring their potential for contemporary composition. To find out more about the project, please contact hadi.rahmani@bristol.ac.uk. To read more PGR summer internship projects, visit Arts Matter.

The Long and Winding Prosecution of Red Terrorism in Italy: A Database of Trials

Posted on by George Thomas

By Tom Baker, PhD Italian candidate, School of Modern Languages

In the first of a new series spotlighting PGR summer internship projects, PhD Italian candidate Tom Baker tells us about working with Professor John Foot on the Italian terrorist trials of the 1970s and 80s. Together, they created a database of trials mapping the activity of armed Left-wing groups who sought to overthrow the Italian state.

I undertook a PGR internship under the supervision of Professor John Foot during the summer of 2024. We worked together over the course of six weeks researching and documenting the trials of those accused of acts and affiliations in relation to ‘Red’ terrorism (perpetrated by armed Left-wing groups) in Italy during the ‘Years of Lead’. The ‘Years of Lead’, from roughly the 1970s through until the mid-1980s, was a period of societal unrest, with both Left- and Right-wing armed groups carrying out targeted assassinations, kidnappings, robberies, opportunistic shootings and bombings. After a terrorist act, it was often unclear which group was responsible, let alone which individuals within the group were involved. Thousands of such incidents required thorough investigation and unravelling, much like the complex networks of the terrorist groups themselves.

The photo above was taken by Paolo Pedrizzetti in Milan during the ‘Years of Lead’. The young man in a ski mask (centre) was a member of a far-left organization which pulled out their pistols and began to shoot at the police, killing policeman Antonio Custra on May 14, 1977.

There were many changes to Italian law to overcome terrorism in Italy. Changes to procedures, how long and where an individual could be detained, a tightening of prison facilities (to arrest the rash of breakouts) and special bomb proof court rooms with cages constructed. The starting point for our research begins after a notice for arrest was issued. Using digital archives of trial material, newspaper archives, books, interviews and other sources we began to piece together the complex tapestry of the Italian state’s attempt to prosecute the armed Leftist groups.

The project is an important one, as our research shows there exists no complete database of the hundreds of trials of accused Leftist terrorists in Italy. The fact that we focused on red terror as opposed to both red and black (Right) terror significantly focused the research, as to attempt both would dilute the project given the time constraints. As for a timespan, we decided on 1974 – marked by the arrest of the historical leadership of the Brigate Rosse (Red Brigades), the largest Left terror group during the Years of Lead – to 1994, when the Autonomia Maxi trial concluded. This trial was part of a broader legal process that began in 1979 and involved individuals accused of being the ideologues behind left-wing terrorism. A maxi trial, now more familiar with Mafia trials, is a good example of the changing procedures in judicial process during the Years of Lead. Several hundred people would be tried together under extreme levels of security. This security was necessary as several trials were postponed as Left-wing terrorists targeted and killed judges to halt the prosecution of their comrades and the revolution. Even today, trials of some Left-wing terrorists in Italy remain unheard, as the Italian state continues to seek extradition of individuals believed to be responsible.

A photograph from the trial of the historical leadership of the Brigate Rosse (Red Brigades) in Turin, 1976. The defendants, often caged, refused to recognise the court’s legitimacy and regularly attempted to disrupt proceedings.

Given the time constraints we faced and the sheer volume of material we decided it was best that I first focus on listing where this trial material can be found, so this project has an easy access point for continuity. Following this I researched individual acts of terrorism, read newspaper archives (il Manifesto, Il Messaggero, La Repubblica, Corriere della Sera) for police appeals and reports, the arrested suspects and their subsequent trials. From here, I would note the dates of the trial, in which court the trial took place, who the judges were and the outcome to build the database. Some individuals, particularly those most active in their organisations, appeared in court over a dozen times. Their sentences would often change, there were appeals, overturned convictions and a change to their status – such as benefitting from a law passed in this period for dissociation with armed struggle leading to a much lighter sentence.

On a personal note, starting an exciting project from scratch has helped me further develop my research skills and I have enjoyed the opportunity of working closely with my supervisor. We hope that this research will be a starting point in the complex process of collating the terror trials in Italy, bringing together the fragmented yet interconnected legal processes which ultimately ended in success for the state.

Tom Baker is a PhD candidate in the School of Modern Languages with research interests in labour history, deindustrialisation, transformation of work, social movements and oral history. To find out more about the project and database created with Professor John Foot, contact ks21162@bristol.ac.uk. To read more PGR summer internship projects, visit Arts Matter.